Top 5 TFT Set 17 Comps and Builds to Play

If you're trying to climb in TFT Set 17 right now, the meta is in a good spot. Patch 17.5b gives you a real mix of strong lines: fast 8, fast 9, and reroll all win, so you're not stuck forcing one comp every game. The trick this set is reading what the game hands you and committing to the comp your stuff actually supports.

Before we get into the top 5, two quick things you need to know about Set 17.

What makes the Set 17 meta tick

Set 17 is called Space Gods, and the big change is that the carousel is gone for the first time ever. In its place is the Realm of the Gods. Each game picks two gods out of the lineup, and during stages 2 through 4 you visit the Realm and grab an offering tied to one of them. Line up with the same god twice and you earn a God Boon at 4-7, which is basically a custom armory you can shape around your comp.

A few traits matter a lot every single game. Stargazer charts a different constellation each match and powers up certain board hexes, so checking your constellation at the start is the single most important habit you can build. Space Groove stacks damage the longer a fight goes. Psionic is item-based. Meeple lets you print extra unit copies. Keep an eye on these because most of the best comps need a specific setup to come online.

The short version of the current meta: it leans slightly toward AD damage, it rewards good tempo, and almost every top comp is conditional. That means you should glance at your constellation, your items, and your augment options before you lock into anything. If you want a refresher on how the new mechanic works, our Set 17 mechanic guide breaks it down.

Now, the comps.

1. Stargazer Xayah (S-tier)

This is the line to one-trick if you want something reliable. Xayah has one of the highest carry ceilings in the patch, and the comp is flexible on its frontline, so you can adapt to what you find.

The one condition: you want a good Stargazer constellation. Serpent, Boar, and Altar are great. Mountain and Fountain are fine. Avoid forcing this if you roll Huntress or Medallion. The 17.5b patch buffed Serpent's poison damage, so that constellation is even better than before.

Early game: Open with a strong AD board like Talon, Jax, Aatrox, and Twisted Fate, and slam an attack speed item the moment you get one.

Final board (level 8 into 9): Xayah and Jhin are your carries in the backline. Around them you want Nunu, Tahm Kench or Rammus, Aatrox, Jax, Maokai, and Rhaast. At level 9 you can add Blitzcrank or Shen. If you haven't found Jhin yet, Samira holds his spot just fine.

Best items: On Xayah, go two Kraken Slayer plus Red Buff. Guinsoo's and Giant Slayer work too. If you ever see Titanic Hydra from an artifact, grab it, because it's busted on her. For Jhin, build Infinity Edge, Last Whisper, and Striker's Flail, and never put Guinsoo's on him.

Augments: Items first, then econ, then combat. Anything that gets you a Radiant Red Buff is a big win. Since Xayah needs a lot of bows, item-generating augments smooth out her build.

How to play it: Tuck Xayah into a back corner, ideally on a powered-up Stargazer hex so she ramps attack speed safely. Heads up, Nunu is the single most contested unit in the game, so don't count on getting him every time.

Fast 8, medium difficulty, and item-dependent. If your bows show up and your constellation cooperates, this is your bread and butter.

2. Meeple Gnar Printer (S-tier)

This one climbed thanks to the recent patch, and it's a blast to play. The idea is to hit 7 Meeple, which lets you print extra Gnar copies and three-star him while you're also making gold.

Early to mid: Play a solid 3 Meeple board with Gnar and roll lightly on 3-2 to lock in Gnar 2 and build your econ. Don't camp at level 6, this is a tempo comp, not a slow roll.

Final board (8 into 9): Gnar is your carry. Rammus tanks, Corki and Bard fill in, and Jhin joins at level 9 alongside Karma. Poppy works as an early item holder before Gnar is ready.

Best items: Gnar wants Deathblade, Guinsoo's Rageblade, and Infinity Edge. A second Deathblade with Last Whisper and Kraken is a fine alternative. Give Rammus normal tank items, and dump leftover AD on Corki and leftover AP on Bard.

Augments: If you see Sword Overflow, take it, it's the best augment for this line. Otherwise grab emblems and item augments before anything else.

How to play it: Protect Gnar and spread your board a bit so AoE doesn't wreck you while Rammus soaks damage. You need to save enough HP to actually print Gnar 3, so don't bleed out chasing it.

Fast 8 tempo, medium difficulty. You'll want a Meeple +1 and plenty of swords to really go off.

3. Space Groove Samira Reroll (S-tier)

If you like reroll comps, this is your pick. You're slow rolling at level 7 to three-star Samira and Ornn while stacking Space Groove. The strongest version uses the Two Tanky augment for a beefy double-Ornn frontline.

One note: patch 17.5b nerfed Space Groove, Two Tanky, and Samira a little, so this isn't the runaway best comp it was earlier in the patch. It's still very strong, just not the auto-pick.

Early to mid: Open around a Samira slam, save your HP, then get 5 Space Groove online and slow roll at level 7 for your three-stars.

Final board: Run 5 to 7 Space Groove with Teemo, Nasus, Gwen, Ornn, Samira, Nami, and Blitzcrank. With Two Tanky you're playing double Ornn and double Samira at level 7. At 8 you add a sixth Groovian or a Bastion unit, and at 9 you push 7 Space Groove once Blitzcrank shows up.

Best items: On Samira, build Last Whisper, Spear of Shojin, and Deathblade. Do not put Infinity Edge on her, it's bugged this patch. Ornn takes normal tank items, and his passive can turn one of them Radiant.

Augments: Two Tanky for the top-end version. Otherwise prioritize emblems, then items, then reroll and econ augments.

How to play it: With a small frontline, watch your positioning so you don't get wrapped. Play vertical Space Groove rather than splashing only three of the trait.

Level 7 three-cost reroll, easy to medium. It plays best as a payoff comp, so you want Two Tanky or a clean setup plus a lot of swords and econ to fully win out.

4. Vex Fast 9 (S-tier)

This is the high-ceiling, high-effort line. You're racing to level 9 with Vex as your AP carry, backed by Graves or Fiora and a couple of NOVA units feeding free Shred and Sunder. Riot buffed Vex back up in the 17.5b micropatch after over-nerfing her, so she's hitting hard again.

Early game: Play your strongest board, win streak, and stack gold with econ augments. Hold one Akali and one Aatrox while you streak.

Getting to 9: If you're healthy at 80 plus HP in stage 4, you can take some losses, econ hard, and hit level 9 around 4-5 to find a two-star tank.

Final board (level 9): Vex carries from the backline. Graves is a strong secondary, and the earlier you get him the better. Add Fiora, Nunu, Akali, Aatrox, Rhaast, Shen, and a Blitzcrank or Morgana flex.

Best items: Vex wants Guinsoo's Rageblade, Giant Slayer, and Hextech Gunblade. Skip Spear of Shojin on her. Graves really wants a QSS for CC immunity, plus Deathblade and Striker's. Fiora likes Sterak's Gage, Titan's Resolve, and Bloodthirster.

Augments: Misfits is the standout here. Otherwise lean econ, then items, then combat. You usually need a combat augment to actually win out at 9.

How to play it: Standard backline protection for Vex. The tough part is simply getting to 9 comfortably with three-item carries, so only commit when your board and HP allow it.

Fast 9, hard. It's an Exodia-style line, meaning it pays off huge when everything lines up but punishes you if you force it.

5. Brawler Master Yi (A-tier)

If you want the easiest path to a first-place finish, this is it, as long as you have the items. You're stacking 4 Brawler with Marauder, NOVA, and Psionic around Master Yi, with Kindred and Fiora as secondary carries. It's also the best emblem user in the patch thanks to all its open traits.

Early to mid: Play 4 Brawler with Marauder and NOVA. Master Yi can go in with items right away. Bel'Veth and Briar hold items early.

Final board (8 into 9): Master Yi carries, with Kindred and Fiora backing him up. Your frontline is Tahm Kench, Maokai, and Gragas, alongside Bel'Veth and Urgot. At 9 you add a flex unit like Rhaast or Shen to hit 6 Brawler or 6 Marauder with an emblem.

Best items: Master Yi's dream build is Malware Matrix (the best Psionic item), Edge of Night, and Giant Slayer. Edge of Night is almost mandatory, the comp drops a full tier without it. Kindred wants Guinsoo's, Runaan's Hurricane, and Last Whisper. On your tanks, build only one source of Sunder, not two.

Augments: Grab Brawler, Marauder, or Psionic trait augments, and Just Slayer is a great combat pick. For emblems, value Marauder over Brawler and Psionic, with Challenger behind them.

How to play it: Position Yi so he can reach priority targets without getting blown up early, keep Kindred safe in the back, and spread your Brawler wall against AoE.

Fast 8, easy. It's strongest when you're ahead with a good Psionic item or an emblem. Without an emblem it's more of a steady top-4 line than a win-out, which is still great for climbing.

How to actually climb with these comps

The biggest mistake you can make this set is forcing one comp no matter what. The meta rewards flexing. Open with a board that uses common items, slam your components early, and let your constellation, god alignment, Psionic item, and augments point you toward the right final comp.

A few habits that help:

Read your opener for direction, not just strength. Pick a plan early and commit to it instead of drifting.

Know your power spikes. Reroll comps want to hit at 3-1, 3-2, and 4-1. Fast 8 spikes at 4-2, and fast 9 spikes again at 5-2. Scout the lobby to see who's contesting your units before you push.

Slam items instead of holding out for the perfect build. Most comps care more about tempo than a flawless item set. The exceptions are Xayah and Samira, which really do want their best-in-slot items, so only force those when your components line up.

Make god alignment your first big call. Kayle for items and Ahri for gold are the safe, consistent picks. Evelynn and Aurelion Sol swing harder but only when conditions are right.

If you want more on itemizing and pushing rank, check our TFT ranked climbing guide.

The bottom line

Patch 17.5b is a flexible, healthy meta, and all five of these comps can carry you up the ladder. Stargazer Xayah is your reliable one-trick, Gnar Printer and Samira reward good tempo and reroll play, Vex Fast 9 has the highest ceiling if you can pilot it, and Brawler Master Yi is the easy first-place machine when your items show up.

One last thing: TFT moves fast. This list is current for patch 17.5b in June 2026, and Set 18 lands on July 29, so check the live tier list after any new B-patch before you commit to a main comp.